Switch



Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES i iifiiNT OFFICE SWITCH Thomas W. Thirlwell, Mount Vernon, ()hio Application April 20, 1942, Serial No. 439,756

1 Claim.

My invention relates to signaling devices for automotive vehicles, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved direction signal switch.

An object of my invention is to provide a direction signal switch which is manually controlled for the purpose of selectively closing the circuits of the right andleft signal lamps, in which the switch is semiautomatic in that the switch lever is automatically returned to its neutral position as an incident to turning of the steering wheel when bringing the vehicle into the straightaway, in which the switch is so designed as to be positive and silent in its operation, and in which the switch parts are well insulated to confine the current to the respective circuits.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a steering column and its steering wheel illustrating my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 2-2 of Figure l Figure 3 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar. to Figure 2 illustrating the switch lever in one of its signaling positions;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2.;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but illustrating the switch lever in one of its signaling positions;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the switch lever returning arms;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electric signaling circuit;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of insulating certain parts of the switch structure; and

Figure 11 is a View similar to Figure 9 but illustrating a modification.

In th embodiment selected for illustration, I make use of a metallic plate ill in the nature of a segment of a washer secured edgewise to a housing l2 at the upper end of the usual steering column tube M. This tube encloses the usual steering rod is turned through the medium of the steering wheel l8. L-shaped brackets 29 riveted at 22 to the housing l2 and bolted at 24 to the plate Ill to fixedly secure the latter to and inside the housing I2. This plate parallels the plane of the steering wheel l B.

Figure 8 illustrates left and right turn signal indicating lamps 26 and 28, respectively, grounded at 30. The source of current 52 is grounded at 34 and is connected with a wire 36 common to the two lamps 26 and 28 and electrically connected-with a contact 38 mounted on the plate H). A wire All leads from the lamp 25 to a contact 42 of the switch, and a similar wire i l leads from the lamp 28 to a switch contact 46.

Figures 3, 5 and 6 illustrate the contacts 42 and 46 as comprising straps of flexible material having their free ends lying between the contact i8 and the plate It and normally spaced from the contact 38. Contact 38 is also in the nature of a spring arm having one end fixedly secured to the plate l0 through the medium of screws 48. The common wire 83 is electrically connected with one of the screws 68, this screw having electrical engagement with the contact 33.

Figure 10 illustrates the screws it as being passed through a strip of insulation 53 lying against one face of the plate i8 and through insulating sleeves 52 in openings at in the plate 10. A strip of insulation 56 is positioned adjacent the opposite face of the plate It to constitute a mount for the contact 38, the screws 43 passing through aligned openings in the insulation 58 and this contact plate. All the parts are secured into a unitary structure through tightening of the bolt nuts 58.

The contacts 42 and do are mounted on insulation strips 33 clamped against the plate it by screws 62 passing through openings in the plate it and through insulation bodies G l lying against the opposite face of the plate it The screws 62 are insulated from the plate ill by sleeves in the same manner as the screws it. One screw 62 of the contact 42 has the wire electrically connected therewith, this screw being in electrical engagement with the contact 42. Similarly, one of the screws 62 of the contact 4 5 serves as a terminal for the wire M, this screw being in electrical engagement with the contact 43.

A switch lever 68 lies against the face of the plate ill opposite the contacts 38, '52 and it and is pivotally connected with the plate by a pin 68. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the lever 68 is held snugly against the plate 50 by a strap it spaced from the plate by sleeves 12 mounted on bolts 74. A second strap 76 is held in spaced and parallel relationship with the strap in by means of sleeves 15 mounted on the bolts it. Both the straps and the sleeves l2 and I8 are clamped into a unitary structure through tightening of the bolts M, these bolts being threaded into the plate H] as at 89. Between the straps ill and it is intel-posed a circuit breaker T head 82. The short leg 84 of the T head is pivotally connected. at 86 with the straps I and 76. A pin 88 is attached to the lever 66 between the pivots 68 and 86 and extends loosely through a slot 90 in the T head 82, see Figure 4.

To the outer ends of the arms 92 and 94 of the T head 82 are pivotally mounted lever returning arms 96. Figure '7 illustrates the arm 96 mounted on the arm 92. This arm is bent from a metal strap to provide spaced .legs 98 and I80 between which the end of the arm 92 is freely receivable. A flange I02 projects upwardly from the arm I00 at one edge thereof and a second flange I04 projects upwardly from the opposite edge of the arm. The flange I02 is provided with an opening I06 for freely receiving one end of a spring wire I88 passing loosely through a slot H0 in the flange I04. The opposite end of the wire spring I08 is bent and inserted through an opening I I 2 in the arm 92 and is held in a bent condition by a pin II4 secured to the arm 92. A pin II6 pivotally connects the arm 96 with the arm 92 and the wire spring I68 yieldingly pivots the arm to the position of Figure 4, at which time the bight II'I of the arm engages the arm 92 to restrain the arm 96 from pivoting clockwise beyond the position of Figure 4. However, the arm 96 may pivot counter-clockwise. The arm 96 associated with the arm 94 is of identical construction so that corresponding reference characters identify the corresponding parts thereof. The only difference in the two arms lies in the fact that the flanges I02 and I04 are reversely positioned, since the arm 96 on the arm 84 is free to pivot in a clockwise direction but is restrained from pivotal movement in a counter-clockwise direction when positioned according to Figure 4.

In Figures and 6, pins H8 are slidable in openings I20 in the plate I0. These pins have rounded upper ends normally projecting above the upper face of the plate I0 and are spaced so that the lever 66 may lie therebetween to be normally restrained from accidental pivotal movement. One pin H8 is insulated from the contact 42, as at I 22, and this pin is normally held in the position of Figure 5 by the tension of the contact 42. The head I24 of the pin lies in engagement with the insulation I22 and constitutes a stop to restrain the pin from being projected upwardly beyond the position of Figure 5. Similarly, the head I24 of the other pin I I8 lies in engagement with the insulation I26 on the contact 46. Contact 46 is also tensioned against the pin II8.

A third pin I28 is slidable in an opening I30 in the plate II] and is yieldingly pressed against the lever 66 by a spring I32. Two recesses I34 are provided in the face of the lever 66 lying against the plate I6. These recesses selectively receive the latch pin I 28 in the respective left turn and right turn positions of the lever 66. When the lever 66 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as to the position of Figure 4, the lever engages one of the pins H8 and bends the contact 42 into engagement with the common contact 38 for closing the circuit through the left turn signal lamp 26. At this time the latch pin I28 extends into one of the recesses I 34 in accord ance with Figure 6. When the lever 66 is rotated in a clockwise direction from its normal position of Figure 5, the lever depresses the other pin I I8 and bends the contact 46 into engagement with the common contact 38 at which time the latch pin I28 is projected into the other recess I34.

The hub structure of the steering wheel I8 is provided with two diametrically opposed lugs I36 for coaction with the arms 66 to return the lever 66 to its neutral position after a turn has been completed in either direction. Counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 66 imparts clockwise rotation to the T head 82, while clockwise rotation of the lever 66 imparts counter-clockwise rotation to the T head. One of the arms 96 is provided with a roller I38 which takes a position in the path of the lugs I36 when the lever 66 is shifted for illuminating the left turn lamp 26, while the other arm 66 is provided with a roller I46 which takes a position in the path of the lugs when the lever is pivoted for energizing the right turn lamp.

Figure 4 illustrates the left turn signaling position of the lever 66 and Figure 2 illustrates the normal positions of the rollers I38 and I40 which permits rotation of the lugs I 36 without interfering engagement with either of the rollers I38 or- I40. 1 a

With the lever 66 positioned according to Figure 4, the steering wheel may rotate counterclockwise for left turn purposes without altering the position of the lever 66, since the arm"96 carrying the roller I35 is yieldably mounted for rotation in a clockwise direction, as when en gaged by a lug I36. As the vehicle is brought into the straightaway, reverse rotation of the steering wheel brings a lug I36 into engagement with the roller I38, but rotating in a clockwise direction, so that the T head 82 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction to its normal position of Figure 2. The same action takes place when the lever 66 is pivoted to its opposite extreme position for energizing the right turn lamp.

Cam surfaces I42 are provided on the lever 66 to respectively engage the pins II8 when shifted to right and left signal indicating positions. A handle I44 is mounted on the lever 66. The housing I2 is provided with an opening I46 for the lever 66.

Figure 11 illustrates a modification of Figure 9 in that the plate I48 corresponding to the plate I0 is provided with lugs for connection with the housing I2. One such lug is illustrated at I50 lying in engagement with the housing I2 and fixedly secured by a screw I 52. i

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

In switch mechanism of the character. de-' scribed, a pivoted arm, a pivot pin fixed on and projecting from one side of the arm, a stop projection on the arm spaced from the pivot pin, a U-shaped member having parallel legs con nected by a web at one end, said legs being provided with aligned openings, said U-shaped'member-being mounted on the arm with the pivot pin extended through the apertures, a pairof flanges formed on the opposed longitudinal edges of one of the legs of said member, one of said flanges having a hole therethrough and the opposite flange having a slot, a spring wire extended transversely through the hole and 'slot of the respective flanges and engaging the projection on the arm to bias the U-shaped member to a predetermined position on the arm, and a roller rotatably mounted between the legs at the open end of the U-shaped member adapted to engage means operable to swing said member against the restraining action of the spring.

THOMAS W. TI-HRLWELL. 

